R.I.P. Ted Curson

News have been circulating on Twitter these last few hours that trumpeter Ted Curson has passed away at the age of 77, most citing a French website as a source. Sad news indeed. Curson is perhaps best know for his tenure with Charles Mingus, although he also played with such luminaries as Archie Shepp (Fire Music), Cecil Taylor and Andrew Hill, as well as recording a dozen or so records as a leader or co-leader.

Curson can be heard at the paek of his powers on "Folk Forms No. 1" from Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus (Candid, 1960), together with Mingus, Eric Dolphy and Dannie Richmond. Some band, that.

Unheard tapes from Mingus' 1964 Town Hall concert to be released

This is what you get for not paying close enough attention to the Twitter and Facebook updates of people you follow. On March the 8th earlier this spring, it was announced on Mingus' Facebook page (run by his widow Sue, I assume) that tapes for a Part 2 of the great 1964 Town Hall Concert featuring Eric Dolphy was being prepared for release. The message explained that the tapes had not been issued earlier as they (i.e. Sue and Charles) had ran out of funds after the release of part one, or what is just known as Town Hall Concert (1964). There's also a possibility for a Mosaic box set.

Read the full FB update here.